physical appearance and body image
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Physical Appearance and Body Image. Mirror, mirror, on the wall…. Looks matter. We live in an image-conscious society Attractive people enjoy numerous advantages better liked higher self esteem more dates greater social power lighter jail sentences. The “Halo effect” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Physical AppearanceandBody Image
Mirror, mirror, on the wall…
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Looks matter• We live in an image-
conscious society• Attractive people enjoy
numerous advantages– better liked
– higher self esteem
– more dates
– greater social power
– lighter jail sentences
• The “Halo effect”• Attractiveness carries
over to perceptions of other qualities– perceived intelligence– perceived friendliness– perceived happiness– perceived kindness
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Does beauty come from within or without?
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Appearances convey meaning• Clothing
– muffin top
– whale tail
– pants on the ground
– skinny jeans
• Artifacts– weaves, extensions
– tattoos
– piercing
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The “beauty is good” stereotype• “Physical appearance and
beauty are unmistakably pervasive and powerful agents in the social world, and influence our conversation, reproductive decisions, and perceptions of ourselves and others” (Griffin & Langlois, 2006)
• We are socialized to equate what is beautiful with what is good– Cinderella
– Snow White
– Goldilocks
• Facebook– people with attractive friends
were perceived as more attractive themselves
• ratemyprofessor– “chile” rating
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Body types
• Ectomorph: thin, bony, wiry, fragile, wizened
• Mesomorph: muscled, v-shaped torso, broad shoulders, athletic
• Endomorph: rounded, chubby, husky, pear-shaped, “big-boned”
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Body image
• Body image is an inner view of the outer self– One’s judgments about one’s
own body– Body image is perceptual– Body image is acquired via
socialization– Positive and negative feedback
from others
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Body dissatisfaction• Body image is related to
self esteem• Body dissatisfaction can
result in:– anxiety– depression– eating disorders– substance abuse
• The average woman is 5’4” and weighs 145 lbs.
• The average model is 5’ 10” and weighs 117 lbs.
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Barbie vs. real women
• If Barbie were an actual person she would be 6 ft tall, weight 100 lbs, and wear a size 4.
• Her measurements would be 39”/19”/33”
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Sources of body dissatisfaction• Media use is directly linked to
women’s body dissatisfaction (Grabe, Ward, & Hyde (2008)
• Fashion industry– Leggy supermodels
• Make-up industry– Look younger– Eliminate wrinkles
• Women’s magazines– digital editing, airbrushing
• MTV, music videos• Television
– The Swan (Fox)
– Extreme makeover (ABC)
• Cinema– thin actresses
• Victoria’s secret– “angels”
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Counter media messages
– Dove’s real beauty campaign
– Curves• “No makeup, no men, no
mirrors”
– Heavy actresses– Plus size models– TV shows
• Biggest Loser• Ugly Betty• Glee
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Ideology of beauty
• Schwichtenberg (1989) women are taught that beauty is a timeless, universal ideal to which all women should aspire
– Women are inherently flawed without beauty products
• Only 2% of women consider themselves beautiful
• 80% of college women are dissatisfied with their body
• 70% of college men are dissatisfied
• Americans spend $40 billion annually on dieting and diet-related products
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Thin is (still) in
• “you can never be too rich or too thin.”
• Slimness is equated with success, popularity, fitness, attractiveness (Hawkins, Richard Granley, & Stein, 2004)
• The majority of actors and actresses are underweight or thin (Fouts & Burgraf, 2000)
– 76% of female characters are underweight– 19% of female characters are average– 5% are overweight
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Still a double standard?• Heavy
actressesKathy Bates
Nikki Blonsky
Judi Dench
Ashley Fink
Mercedes Jones
Queen Latifah
Melissa McCarthy
Mo’nique
Amber Riley
• Heavy actorsAlec BaldwinJack BlackTom ArnoldJames GandolfiniRicky GervaisBrenden GleesonJohn GoodmanJonah HillPhillip Seymour HoffmanKevin JamesOliver PlattSeth Rogan (now slimmer)Tom SizemoreEric Stonestreet
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Male body image
• Body dissatisfaction is less common in boys than girls
• Unrealistic male images are on the rise– buff, ripped, cut
– Increased steroid use
– more cosmetic surgery
• Males are increasingly being sexually objectified
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The ideal male body
• then • now
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Ethnicity and body image• Homogenization toward a
Western concept of beauty– thin– narrow noses– straight hair
• Chris Rock’s documentary, “Good Hair”
• White women tend to exhibit greater body dissatisfaction than African-American women– Okay to be “thick”– Big booties are
desirable
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Clothing as artifacts
• Decoration– Fashion, costume
parties
• Protection– UV, cold
• Sexual attraction– Lingerie, muscle
shirts
• Concealment– hijab, burka
• Group affiliation– Sports jerseys, frat
wear
• Persuasion– Job interview, causes
• Status– Designer clothing,
luxury brands
• Comfort, functionality– Jeans, sweatshirt,
pajamas